London House – Battersea

What
Battersea neighbourhood favourite London House showcases its new look, new bar and new menu.

WhereLondon House
7-9 Battersea Square
Battersea Village
London
SW11 3RA

Experience

I had the opportunity to visit modern British cuisine restaurant London House, part of the Gordon Ramsay Group.

As soon as I entered I was greeted with relaxed decor and a friendly waiters smile. I sipped a glass of sweet Clementine Daiquiri in the bar while admiring the fireplace and slow slung tables where locals sat with glasses of red, picking at light bites from the kitchen. My friend arrived to meet me so we took a wander outside to enjoy the new sun soaked – ready for summer – terrace for a while.

None other than Gordon Ramsey himself was perched at the bar when we took our seat at the table. He seemed at home chatting to the locals before disappearing out of my vision.

The reigns in the London House kitchen have been handed over to new head chef George Lyons who has ingeniously created a versatile menu packed with comforting dishes. Let me tell you about a few I tried. Hold on to your saddle.

Our evening dinner started with an utterly inspired dish, Wue Valley asparagus with kale pesto, wild garlic and hazelnuts. A perfectly poached egg was perched proudly on the asparagus. The hazelnuts added texture while the kale pesto brought the dish together. I would have easily ordered another portion for main and dessert, but my main course was en route.

My finger walked from one side of the menu to the other a few times before making my choice on main. Monkfish with tender stem broccoli and laksa mussels or Lamb Cannon with calcot onion purée and artichokes. After a gentle poke from my friend ‘Lucy, you have to have the lamb’, I concurred entirely. The lamb was served off the bone and perfectly pink, gently sweetened with the accompanied calcot onion. It was delightful.

The dessert was a playful take on a childhood favourite, Doughnuts, rhubarb and custard – but far more special. I was a little full by the end of the experience, but it didn’t stop me from polishing off the small bundles of dough-joy.

There is so much going on at London House! I sit salivating over the Sunday lunch menu which sees a rotating selection of sharing roasts that might include a Beef Wellington, Dingley Dell pork rack or slow-cooked lamb shoulder, each served with piles of seasonal greens, roasted spuds and root vegetables with a generous splashing of jus for just £19.50 per head. You can even bring the pooch and there’s a bowl of dog biscuits on the house.

As with a lot of restaurants now, London House offers bottomless Prosecco with brunch at the weekends. I am definitely going to return to take advantage of ‘Wine Wednesdays’ where diners enjoy their plonk at retail prices.

Bravo George Lyons. Bravo Gordon Ramsay. Bravo London House. I felt thoroughly welcomed to the neighbourhood.